University of Parma 

About: 

The University of Parma in Emilia- Romagna, Italy, can trace its history back to 962.  The University now has around 30,000 students across 9 departments, and is a state university, meaning that it is self governing and autonomous in many areas.  The University of Parma has a strong international network for teaching and research and has many exchange students.

Highlights: 

The facilities at the University of Parma attract many students. For example, the libraries, computer laboratories, the part time jobs and cultural activities are just some of the facilities available to all students. Sporting facilities available at the university include  sports pitches, a swimming pool, tennis courts, the golf course and much more.  In 2020, Parma was appointed Italian capital of Culture.    Parma offers a wide range of cultural opportunities, with a range of theatres, cinemas, exhibitions, museums and art galleries, as well as a series of musical concerts and performances.  'Parma University City' is a joint project between the University and municipality of Parma with the aim of making Parma a more and more suitable city for university students.

Location: 

Parma, Italy

Courses / Modules: 

Check out the course catalogue for your chosen department

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

You must take a full credit load while on exchange. The University of Parma uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to show credit values.  30 ECTS is the equivalent to 60 York credits, and 60 ECTS is the equivalent to 120 York credits.

Teaching Periods: 

Semester 1: September/October- January

Semester 2: February/March- June

Language: 

A2 Italian required, there are limited courses in English

Accommodation: 

There are a few ways that the University of Parma can help exchange students find accommodation:

The Welcome Office can help exchange students find a place to stay.

The ER.GO, which is the Regional Authority for the Right to Higher Education in Emilia Romagna, provides student housing  with over 600 rooms in 6 halls of residence which are located in different areas of Parma.

The University of Parma is a partner of www.housinganywhere.com which is an international student to student housing platform. Home students of the University of Parma can rent out their room to an incoming exchange student. 

Private accommodation is possible and adverts can be found on the boards of the university departments or at the Informagiovani. 

Orientation / Welcome week:  

Check out the exchange students webpages on the University of Parma website to find out about the information webinars and welcome days.

Support Services: 

The Reception and Inclusion centre offer support services for students such as psychological counselling. Check out the Reception and Inclusion centre webpages for more information.

Visas: 

You may need a visa to study in Italy.  If you are a UK National you must refer to the  Gov.uk Travel Advice page for Italy and its Living in Italy guide to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate.  If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.

Exchange students who need a visa for their stay in Parma need to use the official Universitaly portal to start their visa procedure. The University of Parma provides assistance in securing visas to non- EU exchange students.

Travel insurance:  

If you complete the Travel Authorisation process and are approved by the University of York to participate in this programme, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries.  You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange. 

Health insurance: 

Students travelling to Europe may be able to apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or in some circumstances a new UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. You are strongly recommended to obtain a GHIC / EHIC if eligible. To check your eligibility and find out how to apply if you are eligible, go to the NHS page on Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC).

The University of Parma has a student insurance policy which covers casualty's that may occur within the university premises as well as during sports activities and trips abroad.  Check out the exchange students webpages which discuss the medical facilities that are available and how to be entitled to health assistance.

Kitty, Year Abroad in Italy, 2019/20

"I really enjoyed my time in Italy, both in Siena and at the university. I have had so many new experiences, met lots of new people and improved my knowledge of the Italian language. My confidence in talking to people in their native language has definitely increased and I feel like I can hold a conversation with someone well and deal with problems when they arise." 

Eloise, Year Abroad in Italy, 2019/20

"My experience abroad has made me more confident in my own abilities. Speaking the language was one of the biggest challenges and I am proud of myself for going out of my comfort zone, speaking in Italian despite being afraid and succeeding in overcoming my fears. I was able to make friends with Italian speakers and passed speaking exams in Italian. These experiences have helped me to realise that I can do more than I think I can."

Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website!

• University of Parma website

• University of Parma exchange students

• Italy Foreign Travel Advice

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk

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